Caltech Did Not Bow to China's Intervention Concerning On-Campus Falun Gong Activity

On the morning of Feb. 18, Ramanuj Basu, Audience Services Manager of Caltech Public Events Office, received a phone call from Liu Wan-sheng, who identified himself as a consular from the Chinese Consulate in Los Angeles. "I am representing the Chinese government," Liu said. He asked Basu to cancel a seminar event to be held by Caltech Falun Club on the morning of Feb. 20 in Baxter Auditorium of Caltech. Liu said: "Falun Gong is illegal in China". "I really wanted to tell them that this is an American University." Ram said. He then told the caller that this issue should be handled by the Office of Vice President for student affairs. The Vice President, Professor Brennen, was surprised to learn about the request from the Chinese government.

Before that, in his email response to the invitation to the seminar, Prof. Brennen told John Li, the president of Caltech Falun Club, "Let me assure you and the Caltech community that Caltech has no intention of taking any action to interfere with the lawful activities of the Caltech Falun Gong Club. Moreover we remain committed to the free exchange of information throughout the world."

The president of Caltech, Nobel Prize laureate in Biology, David Baltimore, also told John Li on Feb. 15 in his email response to the invitation to the seminar, "I certainly support your right to practice your faith."

Two Caltech security officers were present during the seminar to prevent any interference.

Several months ago, Caltech also rejected China's request to remove the Caltech Falun Club website.